PERINATAL COMPLICATIONS AS PREDICTORS OF INFANTILE AUTISM

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between reported perinatal complications and autism. The biological mothers of 183 autistic children and 209 normals completed the Maternal Perinatal Scale (MPS), a maternal self-report that surveys complications of pregnancies and medical conditions of the mother. Previous research in this area has been limited, with no definitive conclusions. A discriminant analysis was performed to consider perinatal complications as predictors between the autistic and normal subjects. Using the MPS, 65% of the autistic cases were correctly grouped. The results further indicated significant differences on 3 of the 10 factors of the MPS, in particular, Gestational Age, Maternal Morphology, and Intrauterine Stress. When considered in an item by item fashion, 5 items were found to significantly predict group membership (prescriptions taken during pregnancy, length of labor, viral infection, abnormal presentation at delivery, and low birth weight). Finally, 3 maternal medical conditions were found to be highly significant and contribute to the separation between groups, including urinary infection, high temperatures, and depression.